Background Context

An overview of key background documents that will influence and help shape the transport appraisal are shown in Figure 1. They include LDP Guidance, NTS2, NPF4 and the Climate Change Plan, which are summarised below.

The Second National Transport Strategy (NTS2) provides the national transport policy framework for Scotland and sets out four key priorities:

  • Reducing inequality.
  • Taking climate action.
  • Helping deliver inclusive economic growth.
  • Improving health and wellbeing.

The Sustainable Travel Hierarchy, shown in Figure 2 overleaf prioritises sustainable transport, with walking and wheeling at the top of the hierarchy, followed by cycling, public transport, taxis and shared transport, and private car being at the bottom. Policy is shaped by the need to encourage increased use of sustainable modes of transport.

The Sustainable Investment Hierarchy also shown in Figure 2 overleaf is aimed at reducing the need to travel unsustainably, which is at the top of the hierarchy, followed by investment aimed at maintaining and safely operating existing assets, taking due consideration of the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Following this is investment aimed at promoting a range of measures, including innovative solutions, to make better use of existing capacity, ensuring that existing transport networks and systems are fully optimised (these may include technology-based, regulatory, fiscal or value engineering solutions to asset renewals). Investment in targeted infrastructure improvements is at the bottom of the hierarchy.

The Sustainable Investment Hierarchy is used to inform future investment decisions and ensure transport options that focus on reducing inequalities and the need to travel unsustainably are prioritised. Development plans should not bring forward sites and associated infrastructure improvements without first considering the requirement for, and effectiveness of, interventions in the first three categories at the top of the investment hierarchy.

Climate Change Plan Update and Route Map

Scotland’s Climate Change Plan update (2020) set out a world-leading commitment to reduce car kilometres by 20 per cent by 2030 to help achieve the target for net zero emissions by 2045. Transport Scotland produced a draft Route Map to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in car kilometres by 2030 for public consultation in 2022, which set out ways in which we can achieve four key behaviour changes shown in Figure 3. Reducing the need to travel, which could include switching to online alternatives for services or shopping. Living well locally, relates to accessing services and facilities in the local area, connecting to the NPF4 Policy 15. Switching modes is promoting more sustainable modes of transport instead of the private car, and combining trips or sharing journeys could be an alternative in some geographical areas or an option for those attending the same facilities or using the same services.

The Scottish Government has confirmed a review of the 20% by 2030 target for car use reduction on receipt of Climate Change Committee advice, and informed by other relevant evidence, to develop a new, longer-term target. This is set out in the Achieving Car Use Reduction in Scotland: Renewed Policy Statement published in June 2025. However, the Scottish Government remains steadfastly committed to reducing car use across Scotland in a way which is fair and supports a just transition to net zero emissions by 2045.

The Scottish Government will publish a renewed policy on car use reduction and all planning authorities should produce an LDP which will work towards the renewed ambition to reduce car use. Transport Scotland will continue to work with planning authorities to support this. 

Local Development Planning Guidance

The Scottish Government’s LDP Guidance outlines the Scottish Government’s expectations for implementing LDPs. It highlights that they should consider the ambitions and outcomes of an area over the next 20 years.

The LDP principles are set out in Figure 4. They should be Place-based, focussing on place briefs and masterplans with minimal policies and wording. People-centred, putting people and community needs at the fore front of planning; and Delivery-focused which centres on outcomes and an Infrastructure First approach.

The LDP Guidance sets out the requirements for the transport appraisal. It will:

  • Provide a cumulative transport appraisal of the impact of the spatial strategy.
  • Be at a scale and level of detail proportionate to the nature of the issues and proposals being considered, including their funding requirements.
  • Appraise and identify appropriate multimodal mitigation measures if required, to assist in the delivery of the spatial strategy which will help towards delivering the national reduction in car use and target of net zero by 2045.
  • Identify mitigation measures in accordance with the NTS2 Sustainable Travel and Investment Hierarchies, their funding and provide information on delivery.
  • Inform and align with the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Report and the Delivery Programme.
  • Promote a place-based and people-centred approach.

The LDP Guidance also sets out data and information requirements to be included within the Evidence Report, Proposed Plan and Delivery Programme. It details the Evidence Report should include a commitment to undertaking a transport appraisal and that discussions have taken place with Transport Scotland. It also details stakeholder engagement, where views will be provided on the sufficiency of the evidence.

Triple Access Planning

In advance of preparing a development plan, planning authorities should consider the interdependency between physical and spatial proximity as well as digital access. This transport planning concept, known as Triple Access Planning, encourages the integration of land use and transport planning along with digital planning, all of which influence decisions around where development should take place to ensure sustainable mobility patterns. This is an important concept which can shape the land use plans; determining where to locate developments and what infrastructure may be needed to plan for greater sustainable access to services, jobs and amenities.

Sites that are already well served and connected by transport infrastructure should be prioritised ahead of those that require investment. As such, Triple Access Planning aligns with NPF4 Policy 18 Infrastructure First, NTS2 and is detailed within LDP Guidance (2023).

Site allocation should consider proximity to transport nodes and the degree to which sites are served by non-car modes for trip generating uses and encouraging higher densities in these locations. Sites that are not well served by sustainable modes and cannot be made accessible without significant expenditure should not be allocated for significant trip generating development.

A place-based plan should typically:

  • Identify how future development can be accessed sustainably without revenue support from the Government, or how it will be funded and delivered by the private sector.
  • Allocate land well served by existing or committed infrastructure and services before considering the need for additional infrastructure, in line with NTS2 Sustainable Travel and Investment Hierarchies and spatial, physical and digital access considerations.

Transport Investment

The Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will inform the Scottish Government’s transport investment programme over the long term and will inform future Budgets, Spending Reviews and wider government investment plans and strategies.

Through engagement on development plans, Transport Scotland will consider interventions on the Strategic Transport Network that support the delivery of an LDP. The LDP will require to demonstrate that there is a delivery mechanism for such interventions without funding support from the Scottish Government.